Rwanda bans skin lightening products

By Siyabonga Dzimbili

09 January 2019

Photo: Getty Images.

The Rwandan government has banned and confiscated all skin lightening products on sale.

“Love the skin you're in” is the slogan used in the bold move by the East African nation. Police officials in the country have already started confiscating thousands of products since the end of last year, eNCA reports.

According to the PUNCH, many African countries have banned skin-lightening products, but laws aren’t enforced and skin-whitening creams and soaps flood the markets in countries such as Ghana, South Africa, Mali and Nigeria.

Right here in SA, the skin-lightening phenomenon has been propelled by the likes of Mshoza and Khanyi Mbau. It’s without a doubt that these are products women have grown fond of and one might even argue that they need them to feel beautiful.

Speaking on Real Talk with Anele, Khanyi made a religious reference which saw her explaining that because she was created by a God, who is a creator, then she too is a God and has the power to create.